A little dated,  but I hadn't heard about this one before...

* Forwarded by Roy J. Tellason using timEd 1.10.y2k.

From: Ndunlks{at}aol.com
Subject: [piml] Mass. House Amends Gun Law

Mass. House Amends Gun Law

By JENNIFER PETER
The Associated Press 

BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts House has voted to amend the state's
landmark gun control law, passing a bill that would let citizens convicted
of most violent misdemeanors regain their right to carry concealed weapons.

The House adopted the change Wednesday, 114-32, after a heated debate
fueled by a recent spate of shooting crimes, including the death of a
10-year-old girl in Boston last week. The bill would still have to pass the
Senate and be signed by the governor to become law.

The existing 1998 gun control law is widely lauded as the nation's
toughest. Under the law, people convicted of violent crimes - including
violent misdemeanors such as simple assault and minor drug crimes - cannot
apply for a license to carry a hand gun or assault weapon.

Champions of the bill passed Wednesday argued that the law unfairly bars
relatively minor offenders from hunting in Massachusetts by too broadly
defining ``violent'' crime.

(Grr.  It's not about hunting!  --RJT)

``Someone driving unlicensed or uninsured would be ... excluded right along
with the ax murderers,'' said Rep. James Fagan, D-Taunton.

The bill would allow people convicted of violent misdemeanors - except for
domestic assault on a family member - to apply to the local police chief
for a gun license seven years after completion of the sentence. Police
chiefs could reject the request.

Opponents unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to give those convicted of
violent misdemeanors the right to hunt, but not to carry a concealed
handgun or assault weapon.
   
07/11/02 03:02 EDT
  
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